Amphibian propulsion mechanism



July 423, 1946. l 1M. Hm 2,404,490

AMPHIBIAN PROPULSION MECHANISM Fi1ed Jan. 8, 1.942

A Tram/5y Patented July 23, 1946 James M. Hait, San Gabriel,

Food Machinery Corporation, corporation of Delaware Cali-f., assignor to San Jose, Calif., a

Application January 8, 19.42', SerialNo. .426,031

This invention relates to amphibian craft and particularly to a propulsion mechanism for propelling the same either through the water or on the land.

It is an object of my invention to provide an vamphibian propulsion mechanism which will utilize any conventional traction belt developed f or use on tanks to give a rugged supporting medium for the amphibian while it is traveling on land and over hard-surfaced highways and yet at th'e same time develop adequate propulsive thrust when the craft is traveling through the Water.

It is another object of my invention to provide an amphibian propulsion mechanism in which it is unnecessary for the craft to rest on the water propulsion blades when the craft is traveling on land.

The manner of accomplishing th'e foregoing objects, as well as further objects and advantages, will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a representative portion of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the propulsion mechanism IIl illustrated therein includes an endless traction belt II which embodies two rubber tracks I2 in which are imbedded two series of endless cables I3 and an endless series of metal clamps I4 which clamp these cables and provide a support for an endless series of central guides I6 which extend inwardly between bogie wheels I1 which are mounted on the amphibian and ride on the tracks I2 and support the amphibian thereon.

Secured to the bottom of the belt II to provide a tread thereon is an endless series of rubber tread blocks 2li, each of these having a metal base plate 2I which' is secured to the belt by bolts 22 and 23, these bolts passing upwardly through and uniting the base plates 2I withthe clamps I4 and the guides I6.

The base plate 2| of alternate tread blocks 20 has an arm 30 bent upwardly therefrom, this arm Sil forming the metal skeleton of a rubber water impeller blade 3l. Each of these impeller blades is preferably shaped as indicated in Fig. 1 so that when the belt I I travels in the direction of th'e arrow 35 the impeller b1ades.3I act on the water to setl up arpropulsive thrust which drives the amphibian through the water.

Claims. (Cl. 115-1) The term rubber as used herein and in the claims, is to .be understood as including not only that material chemically known as rubber, but all suitable equivalents therefor. f

It Will be readily seen that the impeller blades 3I in no way interfere with the operation of the belt II when the tank is traveling on land. In case the amphibian has to go through very rough terrain in which trees and the like scrape against the sides of the craft, the blades 3| being of rubber merely yield and after the pressure is removed, return to their normal shape.

The term traction belt is used herein generically to embrace all belts, chains, or other endless members suitable for track-forming purposes.

What I claim is:

1. In an amphibian propulsion mechanism, the combination of t an endless traction belt having a tread provided on the traction surface thereof; an endless series of impeller blades provided on said belt along one side thereof and out from under said belt, each of said impeller blades including a metal skeleton and a body of rubber bonded to said skeleton, said skeleton lying in a vertical plane, said body of rubber forming the balance of `said blade extending laterally outwardly therefrom.

2. In an amphibian propulsion mechanism, the combination of an endless traction belt having a tread provided on the traction surface thereof; and an endless series of cup-shaped impeller blades provided on said belt along one side thereof and out from under said belt, each of said impeller blades including a metal skeleton lying in a vertical plane and a body of rubber bonded to said skeletonand cooperating therewith to form an impeller cup which lies outwardly from said skeleton.

3. In an amphibian propulsion mechanism, the combination of: an' endless traction belt having a tread provided on the traction surface thereof; and an endless series of impeller blades provided on said belt along one side thereof, said blades being formed to have sufficient rigidity when said amphibian is traveling in the water to engage the latter and produce a propulsive force for driving said amphibian through yieldable when meeting resistance such' as trees and the like, while said amphibian is traveling, so as to prevent substantial damage to said blades and permit the latter when said resistance has been passed, to return to their original condition suitable for operating in water as aforesaid.

4. In an amphibian propulsion mechanism, the combination of: an endless traction belt having the water, yet being l being yieldable when trees and the like, Whilesaid amphibian is vtrava tread provided on the and an endless sries of impeller blades provided on said belt along one side thereof, said blades being formed to have suflicient rigidity When said amphibian is traveling in the water to engage the latter and produce a propulsive forcev for driving said amphibian through the Water, yet vmeeting resistance such as eling, so as to prevent substantial damage to said blades and permit the dition suitable for operating in Water as aforesaid, said blades being formed principailyofrubber. Y Y

5. In an amphibian tread provided on the traction surface thereof;

latter when said resistance has been passed, to return to their original conpropulsion mechanism, the f combination of: an endless traction belt having a traction surface thereof;

4 and an endless series of impeller bladesprovided on said belt along one side thereof, said blades being formed to have sufcient rigidity when said amphibian is traveling in the water to engage th'e latter and produce a propulsive force for driving said amphibian through the water, yet being yieldable when meeting resistance such as trees and the like, while saidV amphibian is traveling,

so as to prevent substantial damage to said blades and permit the latter when said resistance has' been passed, to return to their original condition suitable for operating in Water as aforesaid, said blades being formed principally of rubber, and having a metal reinforcement disposed close to the edge of said belt and by Which said blades are f attached to Vsaid belt.

JAMES M. HAIT. 

